The FiiO K15 is a desktop DAC with a 3,000mW per channel balanced headphone amp and dual AKM AK4497S DAC chips. It's considerably more affordable than the K17.
It'll be available from 1 August for £499 / $549 / €599.
FiiO has launched a brand new desktop DAC that includes tech from its impressive K17 DAC for considerably less cash.
The FiiO K15 is a DAC, headphone amp and streamer, and while it's aimed at audiophiles it's priced very competitively – under £500.
The K15 is based around dual AKM AK4497S DAC chips, which are part of AKM’s new "velvet sound" series. It is one of the first audio products in the world to implement these chips in a dual-DAC configuration, and FiiO says that they deliver an "organic, immersive sound signature".
I like the styling of this desktop DAC: it's a nice mix of old and new. It's not wallowing in nostalgia, but definitely takes some design cues from classic Hi-Fi kit – its controls are strongly reminiscent of some of the hardware I loved in the 1980s, for example.
On the front there's a 3.93-inch colour touchscreen and some nice, tactile rotary knobs, and the obligatory app provides additional features, including a 10-band parametric EQ.
FiiO K15: key features and pricing
The FiiO K15 comes with a powerful Class AB headphone amp that can put out up to 3,000mW per channel via its balanced output, which is more than enough to drive even the most demanding headphones.
The K15's USB input supports 768kHz/32bit, DSD512 and MQA, and its Bluetooth module supports LDAC, aptX HD and AAC.
The K15 is both AirPlay compatible and Roon Ready, and it also supports local playback via USB storage. It has both single-ended and balanced analogue inputs, while Wi-Fi is dual-band and there's also gigabit Ethernet.
The internal power supply is a 30W AC unit, and the K15 also supports 12V DC input for external hardware. It has independent digital and analog power rails with a multi-stage analogue supply utilising multiple dropout regulators. This, FiiO says, guarantees a constant supply of ultra-clean current to each audio stage.
The FiiO K15 will be demoed at CanJam London on 19 of July and will go on sale on 1 August 2025. The price is £499 / $549 / €599 (about AU$1,035).
